Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability, including ischemic heart disease and angina, based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active military service. The Veteran's current heart conditions are found to be related to his in-service exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claim for benign prostate hypertrophy and increased rating claim for coronary artery disease were denied. The Veteran's initial 70 percent rating for panic attacks was granted, but his claims for sinusitis and TDIU are still pending.

The Board has found the VA Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT) review inadequate to support the decision made, as it did not address whether the Veteran requires personal care services for at least six continuous months based on an inability to perform an activity of daily living (ADL). The case is remanded for further review.

The Board has restored service connection for coronary artery disease and a scar of the anterior trunk, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand. The grant of service connection is based on presumptive exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a link between his active duty service and the disabilities.

Your appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and residuals of prostatectomy due to a lack of evidence showing exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Veteran was not found to have been exposed to herbicides during his service aboard the USS Constellation.

The Board has denied service connection for heart disorders, vascular problems, and psychiatric disorders other than PTSD due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during or are related to the Veteran's active duty service at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, headaches, and CAD as secondary to a current non-service-connected depressive disorder due to an inadequate opinion in the December 2020 VA addendum.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and hypertension are granted. The claim for a prostate condition is remanded.

The Veteran's medical emergency ended by April 17, 2018. He was transferred to UMH for further care and could have been safely transported to a VA facility for continued treatment. No attempts were made to contact the VA regarding transfer of the Veteran between April 17 and 20, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus. The Veteran contends that his diabetes mellitus began during service, but the VA examiner did not adequately address this claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for giant cell aortitis/arteritis and heart disorder (claimed as ischemic heart disease) has been reopened, but new evidence does not support reopening the claims.,The Veteran's hypertension is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. The claim for secondary service connection for H. pylori is also granted.

The Veteran's CAD has been granted an initial rating of 60 percent, effective May 10, 2017. The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's lower extremity symptoms and service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's heart disorder and his alleged in-service exposure to Toluene.

The Board denied service connection for a heart condition claimed as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not link the onset of the heart condition to either service or a service-connected disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent disabling prior to November 1, 2015, and for ratings in excess of 30 percent from November 1, 2015, to January 14, 2020, and thereafter for service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, render him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment.